Suen Cheung-yu of the Yat Lok Restaurant in Central gets to grips with its inclusion in the latest Michelin guide. Some restaurateurs fear that receiving an honourable mention in the famous guide may drive up their rent. Photo: May Tse

A Michelin recommendation, one of the highest accolades in catering, is usually seen as a boon for recipients. But some cheaper Hong Kong restaurants honoured in the French guide's latest edition fear there could be a downside.

With rents already hard to afford, they hope landlords will not use the awards as an excuse to push them even higher.

Pang Pak-sheung said that when he learned that Pang's Kitchen, his Cantonese restaurant in Happy Valley, had received one star in the 2013 Michelin Guide, his reaction was, "Keep me out of this".

"Rent has already doubled compared to 10 years ago when I started this restaurant here," Pang said. "If it goes up again, I may as well just retire."

His restaurant, which can seat 40 people, charges about HK$100 for signature dishes such as sweet and sour pork with strawberry.

He said the restaurant was already very full throughout the week and might not be able handle more people attracted to it by the star.

Pang said he wanted to open another branch but the high rent, rising food costs and staff salaries made it impracticable.

"It's hard to compete with big companies and hotels to get good cooks," he said. "As you can see, many restaurants out there belong to the big corporations. There may come a day when small restaurants no longer exist in Hong Kong," he said.

Suen Cheung-yu, wife of the owner of Yat Lok Restaurant in Central, also said rent had doubled in recent years.

"I am concerned that it will go up further but what can I do?" she asked.

This restaurant, specialising in roast goose, was recommended in the guide under the Bib Gourmand category for restaurants that are the Michelin inspectors' favourites for good value.

Sixty-one Hong Kong restaurants are starred in the latest guide, down from 62 last year. Of these, four were given three stars, 13 were given two stars and 44 were given one star.

Meanwhile, public relations company Headman & Partners, which represents Michelin, confirmed that copies of the Michelin Guide Hong Kong and Macau 2013 were put on sale at City'super supermarkets on Monday night by mistake.

A spokeswoman said the retail launch was planned for today and the distributor had advised all retailers about the date.

The guides were retrieved yesterday after the South China Morning Post inquired about their presence in City'super.

They will be put back on shelves today.

The Michelin Guide spokeswoman said it was a "disappointing incident".

Star-struck

Restaurants with three stars:

Caprice, Central

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Central

Lung King Heen, Central

8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Central

New restaurants with two stars:

RyuGin , Kowloon

Sushi Yoshitake, Sheung Wan

New restaurants with one star

Pang's Kitchen, Happy Valley

L'altro, Central

Zhejiang Heen, Wan Chai

New eateries recommended under Bib Gourmand category

Yat Lok Restaurant, Central

AMMO, Admiralty

JoJo, Sai Kung

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Michelin stars not entirely welcome in HK

Urban Myths. Hong Kong is not a free economy - it has always been bias to property.
Hong kong is not a low tax haven - since the gov't raise funds via land sales aka taxing you before you even buy.
Hong Kong economy is extremely unproductive as its increasingly gearing towards Finance - the biggest parasitical industry there is in this world & property. The jobs it create are unlimited amount of worthless sales agents. Michellin is overrated. Many of the restaurant it promotes are overrated or at least goes downward from there on.

Camel Dec 5th 20121:39pm

the only way out and how to taken away the power of the property tycoons, developers and owners is to flood the market with new properties, buildings and apartments. It is no wonder, that so many Hongkongers decide to leave the city as cost for living is going up with the increase of rent and property prices. Some call it free market but you should call it robbery. We work hard for our money only to give it to the developers and landlords. First Goal of every HKners is, to earn enough money and emmigrate to another country where rent, property prices and cost of living is much lower than in Hongkong.

HK-Lover Dec 5th 201212:35pm

It would be the right thing to do for Michelin Guide to ask a restaurant first for permission whether the restaurants wants to have the "honour" to be listed

xiaoblueleaf Dec 5th 201211:09am

This is the tragedy of HKers, that we are all held hostage to the big property developers in collusion with previous administrations, followed by small property ownes/investors such that every dollar one spends, 40 cents or more go to paying rent to the property owners. Now we see fewer and fewer small individually-owned and -operated shops as most are taken over by the chains many are owned by the big property developers. It is ironic that Hong Kong is one of the most free cities for business - only for big but not small biz.